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Keyboard
wizard Jeff
Lorber has already pressed his idea of fusion jazz into the
black grooves with his group Jeff Lorber Fusion in various
lineups. With albums like the self-titled debut
album
(1977), followed by Soft Space (1978), Water
Sign (1979), Wizard Island (1980), and
Galaxian (1981) he has served the spirit of
contemporary jazz for decades..
He continued this glorious period with albums such as Now Is The Time (2010), Galaxy
(2011), Hacienda (2013), Step It Up
(2015), the GRAMMY awarded Prototype (2017), and
Impact (2018). On the new album Space-Time
(2021) Jeff Lorber is joined by his longtime friends drummer
Gary Novak and bassist Jimmy Haslip.
Further
supporting musicians are flutist Hubert Laws, guitarists
Paul Jackson, Jr., Michael Landau and Robben Ford,
saxophonists Bob Mintzer, Dave Mann, Gary Meek and Gerald
Albright (on bass). Bob Mintzer is thus back as on the
previous albums, just not on all the tracks. The album opens
with the title song, a sparkling up-tempo tune showcasing
Lorber's elegant keyboard play to the fullest. Lovers of
Jeff's Rhodes performance will be enchanted. Bob Mintzer on
tenor sax takes over the melody line to a perfect finish.
Back Room unites David Mann's superb horn
arrangement with Lorber's powerful pulsed synth bass and
virtuosic piano mastery. As extra enjoy Paul Jackson's
otherworldly guitar solo. The strolling and swinging Sun
Princess offers a soothing melody with the pearly sound
of the Rhodes.
Mind Reader gives Lorber ample opportunity to work
his magic on the piano. On the funky Memorex Gerald
Albright plays the bass. This tune is Lorber's tribute to
the pioneer of the audio tape.
Some call
Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular, the
birthplace and heart of jazz. The merging of many cultures
and races led to a musical amalgam, which Jeff Lorber also
takes into account with this piece.
Curiosity is the mindset that keeps musicians awake and inspires their willingness to be innovative. On this piece of music Jeff spreads his fingers in the direction of fusion jazz. With Chick, Jeff commemorates his old friend and genius Chick Corea, who shared a passion for fusion jazz with him and had a hand in shaping the genre for decades.
Day one is the only slow-tempo tune of the album.
This allows the formation to bring the wide spectrum of
emotionality into the music. Especially Michael Landau on
guitar shows at this point his special talents.
On
Truth, Jeff once again draws on the broad pool of
his fusion jazz compositions, which take on a life of their
own in the hands of his trusted collaborators. The album
ends with a reprise of Memorex. In the process,
Gerald Albright's bass playing is put in the spotlight.
With Space-Time, Jeff Lorber has once again
found a promising middle ground between jazz fusion and
melodic jazz. Thus, he does not leave the playing ground of
serious jazz music and ensures the spread of his very own
musical style.
Buy the album in all stores
Album Information
Title: Space-Time
Artist: Jeff Lorber Fusion
Year: 2021
Genre: Contemporary Jazz
Label: Shanachie Entertainment
Tracks:
1) Space-Time (3:23)
2) Back Room (3:33)
3) Sun Princess (4:03)
4) Mind Reader (3:48)
5) Memorex (3:50)
6) Louisiana (4:20)
7) Curiosity (4:04)
8) Chick (3:26)
9) Day One (3:48)
10) Truth (4:35)
11) Memorex Reprise (0:48)
Further reviews:
Hacienda
Step It UpGalaxy
Now Is The Time
Prototype
Impact